Lain's Log

Special day

March 16/12.

Happy birthday to my lifelong fave,

Jerry Lewis! He's 86 today! - And he's coming to Casino Rama to do a live show on April 13th at 9 p.m.!
Here's a link to order tickets for Jerry's show.

http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10004846EA779173

And a link to ALL the upcoming Casino Rama performances.

https://www.casinorama.com/Entertainment.html

I first fell in love with Jerry when I was 11 years old and saw him do this fabulous number called CUTE in the movie Cinderfella. It's the Count Basie classic, written & arranged by Neil Hefti. Flute solo by Frank Wess, drum solo by Sonny Payne. The rest? ALL Jerry, ALL gold! My favourite part is from 1:24 to 1:47 (but really I love EVERY SECOND of the scene). Absolutely brilliant - and I've watched it eleventy billion times!

 
Have the best birthday ever Jerry!  Hope to see you in April!

Today is also my cousin, Sacha's birthday - have a great one! Will have a prezzie for you later! (Unlike Jerry, she's shy about having her picture on blogs, even though she's stunningly gorgeous!)

Today, had lunch with my lovely friend,
MaryLenore Arsenault, publicist extraordinaire! Her outfit is classy, while mine makes me look like I dropped down from another planet - (maybe with Mork from Ork?) The reason? MaryLenore writes a blog called Moss Park Fashionistas. She told me if I wore something vintage, she'd put me in her blog. So, just for her, I wore a "vintage '70s "flower power" button-up shirt over a lacy coral peek-a-boo shirt, teal mini-skirt, black studded tights and vintage red Mexicana cowboy boots with stars. (the boots belong to Kate). Now THAT'S fashion! (not!) Meanwhile, MaryLenore looked like a million bucks in her floral top and matching floor-length skirt! Perfect for spring.
(Fashion credit for MaryLenore: Satin floral skirt & jacket by Betsey Johnson - purchased at F/X Clothing - now called Original) on Queen Street West).

Here is a link to MaryLenore's blog.

http://www.mossparkfashionistas.com/


We had a great lunch at Le Papillon on Front.

The restaurant is right across the street from the famous flatiron building, (Gooderham building), created in 1892.

MaryLenore always has fantastic ideas, and had a few for me regarding some of my job aspirations. It was a beautiful day outside.
We even asked our go-getter waiter, Vovan, to pose with us. (he was very excited about the prospect of being featured in TWO blogs!) Vovan has been working at Le Papillon for 15 years, speaks French (mais oui!) and recommended the crepes. He was right. The black forest ham with apples crepe was delish. MaryLenore had the bacon and apple crepe served with maple syrup, (but I stole all the syrup, since she wasn't using it).

(Fashion credit for MaryLenore's vintage purple velvet opera coat - Bought at Ephemera Heirlooms Antiques at St. Lawrence Market)



(Fashion credit for Vovan - unknown, but HE LOOKS MAH-VE-LOUS!!)


After lunch, we stopped into a couple of stores. A really cool magazine store had all kinds of funny things including these coin banks,

and some really pretty notebooks.

I bought some cute and colourful tissue paper plus a gift bag, all 50 percent off.

Also went to a hair/makeup supply store to look around.

Bought a bottle of something called Paul Mitchell Taming Spray - (described as ouch-free detangler for kids). At $8.95, it's WAYYYYY cheaper than the stuff I usually buy, called I.C.O.N. CURE to comb through my birds nest of tangles after a shower. The clerk there swears it will work for me, but if not, says I can return it for store credit. We'll see! I've yet to find ANYTHING but CURE that will allow even a wide-toothed comb to tear through this mop, so I have my doubts! If not, it's going back! (I really should become a product tester as a profession!)

Then it was off to Urban Nails on the Danforth, where my new favourite manicurist, Kelly, acetoned and scraped off the old shellac, then fixed me up with a new, shiny pale pink shade. (I just can't get over having nails after biting them for decades)! That's TWO things I've given up lately - biting my nails, and wine. Not sure if the latter will last forever, but I'm trying! Next steps? Making some big decisions about looking for work. I think it's time to move forward.


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Weekend shenanigans

February 26/12.

To quote my Facebook pal, Paul Mackay,

"This weekend was snakey!" (his word for wild & busy).

 I returned to Urban Nails, "the scene of the nail shellac crime" on Saturday,

where Kelly "acetoned off" the old pale light pink shellac and re-did them in a brighter shade.
(Are those Medusa's snakes behind us)?? .


LOVE it! This having painted nails thing is stunning me out, since I've never had them before! Still sporting all my "empowerment" rings. (One of these days I'll knock it off, but for now, just feels better wearing them).

FYI - I've never forgotten the first time I saw the Hammer horror flick The Gorgon (1964), in which the star of the film had snakes for hair. (now THAT'S snakey!)

Next on the agenda? Fruit & veggie shopping on The Danforth. Carrie says I need to eat a lot of broccoli. (and since Mum isn't around to advise me of that anymore, guess I have to listen to Carrie!)

Checked out the latest window at It's My Party. Always colourful. Currently an underwater theme with fish.

Then, strangely, a couple of blocks away at a Chinatown pet store, the clerk was bagging up goldfish and guppies for a customer to take home. (er, I THINK they were guppies!) I never had fish as pets before. Only cats.

Realized I'd forgotten something on the Danforth, so drove back to the corner of Broadview & Danforth,
only to spot a CBC TV satellite truck,

then, a CITY truck,

and a gaggle of reporters, photogs & videographers all grappling for the money shot and the sound bite.
What WAS IT?? - I felt like I was back at Global TV, clamouring for an angle.

Turned out, it was interim Liberal leader Bob Rae making a statement and answering questions!
(With Art Eggleton right behind him). Haven't seen Eggleton up close since we went on ONE date circa 1978. (I was the 680 News City Hall reporter at the time). Funny.

Bob held court in the freezing cold for at least a half an hour, discussing Stephen Harper's dirty tricks.

Went walking through Riverdale Park and couldn't believe the weather! Very chilly, but sunny. After that, did a lot of shopping for gifts, to prepare for a family party in Newmarket on Sunday.

Whenever Sam's brother, Neil and his wife, Carolyn throw a bash, they always do it up big!

The spread of food was fab, and there were tulips everywhere!

And plenty of goodies and drinks!

This party was in honour of all the family members with birthdays in January and February.

There were so many guests, 23 in all, that an extra "kid's table" had to be set up in the foyer between the front door and the kitchen!

There were THREE delectable cakes! (carrot cake, strawberry shortcake and chocolate). I had my pic taken with all the members of the birthday brigade, (left to right), bro-in-law, Neil, nephew Justin, niece, Jenny, nephew, Adam and my son, Max!
That's a lot of wishes to make! Hope they all come true!

Neil and Carolyn's oldest son, Jason, couldn't make the party. He was in Kingston, getting ready to leave for a working trip to Ottawa. Uncle Vlado "brought" Jason to the party table via SKYPE. Hi Jason!! We missed you!

Young nephew Zander (just 7), is a riot.

He kept us all in stitches with his Jim Carrey-like antics and agility.


My kids, Kate & Max, just adore him!

Then it was time for prezzies! We gave Justin a shirt that suits him to a tee! Also gave him a gift card for Urban Planet so he can pick out some clothes he really likes.

Adam's Grandma gave him a much-needed tool box with 50 tools inside! (Our present to Adam was a gift card for Tim Horton's. Everyone can always use one of those!)

From his Auntie Cass and Uncle Mark, he also got seasons 3 & 4 of Saturday Night Live, back in the glory days of Dan Aykroyd & Steve Martin ("two WILD & CRAZY GUYS!) and the great Gilda Radner & Bill Murray. Now THOSE sketches would be fun to watch!

I'm a big fan of Adam's. He just turned 20 and is a very talented young man, - sings, acts, dances, juggles, skates, writes and has a beautiful new girlfriend, Alex!

Neil & Carolyn own ALL the seasons of my fave show, House! I have seasons too, but haven't finished watching them all yet!  I kinda just like looking at all those pics of Hugh Laurie!

My parents-in-law, Ben & Jean Bornstein enjoyed overseeing the whole event and being with the fam!

It was a blast of a bash and a good time was had by all! Thanks for the invite!!

Afterwards, I managed to drive home from Newmarket with the help of Bossy GPS broad, who got Kate, Max and I safely there, all in one piece, while Sam drove his parents back to their condo. After that, it was time for the Oscars!
And the return of Billy Crystal! - LOVED it!


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